MODULAR OBJECT PUBLICATION AND DISCOVERY

• US 20100082130A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Govindaraj, Subbian, Jasper, Taryl Jon, Staron, Raymond John, Jarrett, James Harry, Reichard, Douglas James, Seger, Daniel Baliey, Bliss, Ronald Eric, Hall, Kenwood Henry, Kretschmann, Robert John, Plache, Kenneth Scott, Kalan, Michael Dan, Brandes, Russell William
• Granted Patent: US 8,265,775 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

An object can be used in an industrial control configuration in relation to performing a function or task. Matching can occur such that an object with operational requirements can bind with a host that has capabilities that meet those operational requirements—matching can occur automatically as well as through user operation. Once matched, different functionality can be presented to a user pertaining to the object. To assist the user, the object can include external references, logic, local or private data, as well as others in addition to resources. To facilitate operation, capabilities and resources can be published in a directory that can be accessed by different entities—sometimes with security constraints in order to protect configuration integrity. Likewise, a subscription system can be employed such that when a change to a related entity is made, a notice can transfer to related entities and operation can alter based upon the change.

Claims

1. A system capable of implementation upon an industrial control environment or industrial information environment, comprising:

a determination component identifies at least one capability of a host; and

a disclosure component that publishes at least a portion of the at least one identified capability such that the capabilities can be accessed by an object.

2. The system of claim 1, the object comprises:

an interface component that defines external behavior supplied to at least one client application engaging the object;

a logic component that provides behavior and identifies at least one operational requirement to be satisfied by the host;

a reference component that retains metadata pertaining to at least one dependency of the object.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an appraisal component that evaluates the at least one identified capability, a result of the evaluation is used to determine if the identified capability should be published.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a partition component determines at least one capability that should be published and at least one capability that should not be published based upon a result of the evaluation, the disclosure component publishes the capability determined to be published and masks the capability determined not to be published.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an access analysis component that evaluates an entity that requests to appreciate the at least one identified capability;

an access management component that determines if the entity is allowed to view or modify the identified capability; and

an access regulator component that enables the entity to view or modify the publication if it is determined that the entity is allowed or denies access to the publication if it is determined that the entity is not allowed.

6. The system of claim 5, the access management component makes the determination based upon access rights of the entity, a security level of the capability, a security level of the object, or a combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a subscription component that updates a changed capability to an entity that previously appreciated the publication.

8. A method capable of implementation upon an industrial control environment or industrial information environment, comprising:

analyzing an object to ascertain an operating requirement; and

determining if the operating requirement of the object should be published based upon a result of the analysis.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising publishing the operating requirement if it is determined that publication should occur.

10. The method of claim 9, publication is to a directory and once published an authorized entity can access published information.

11. The method of claim 9, publication is restricted such that there is an authorization check before an entity can access the published operating requirement.

12. The method of claim 8, the determination is based upon access rights of an entity anticipated to access the publication, anticipated reproduction of information by the entity, likelihood of the publication being compromised, or a combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising masking the operating requirement if it is determined that publication should not occur.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining if there should be a restriction on publication if it is determined that publication should occur; and

publishing the operating requirement with the restriction.

15. A system capable of implementation upon an industrial control environment or industrial information environment, comprising:

means for evaluating an entity that requests to appreciate at least one capability of a host or at least one operating requirement of an object;

means for determining if the entity is allowed to view at least one capability of the host or at least one operating requirement of the object.

16. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for enabling the entity to appreciate at least one capability of the host or at least one operating requirement of the object if it is determined that the entity is allowed.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for denying access to the at least one capability of the host or at least one operating requirement of the object if it is determined that the entity is not allowed.

18. The system of claim 16, the means for determining makes the determination based upon access rights of the entity, a security level of capability, a security level of the object, or a combination thereof.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for defining external behavior supplied to at least one client application engaging the object;

means for retaining metadata pertaining to at least one dependency of the object.

20. A computer program embodied upon a computer-readable medium comprising:

program code for evaluating a host to determine at least one operational capability; and

program code for presenting at least one determined hosting capability.